Excess Flesh is a 2015 American horror film directed by Patrick Kennelly from a screenplay co-written with Sigrid Gilmer. It star Bethany Orr and Mary Loveless as antagonistic roommates who share an obsession with food.
The film premiered at the South by Southwest festival on March 13, 2015.
Plot teaser:
Los Angeles: Jealous of her thin roommate Jennifer, the average-sized Jill binges and purges in an attempt to maintain her weight. Their relationship becomes even more strained as Jennifer mocks Jill’s issues. Overcome with hatred, Jill lashes out at her roommate and chains Jennifer to the wall, where she taunts her with food…
Reviews:
” … stylish on a low budget, boasting a synth score from Jonathan Snipes (Room 237; Starry Eyes) and slick, slo-mo visual palette, which he then stuffs with graphic eating, and sadistic and self-destructive behavior. This is a film as informed by the veneer of Los Angeles as it is sickened by it; a layer cake of aggression, shame and madness. It’s pretty exhilarating.” Samuel Zimmerman, Shock Till You Drop
“Excess Flesh isn’t a pleasant watch. Whether Jill’s shoveling Pop-Tarts down her throat or slow-motion chewing something else, it’s awkward and upsetting. That could and should have worked to the film’s benefit, but director and co-writer Patrick Kennelly shoots himself in the foot by revealing too much too soon.” Perri Nemiroff, Collider
“It all starts emphatically enough, with Jennifer and Jill fantasizing about their favorite fat-loaded foods, but once the tone shifts to a messy torture porn, confusion and complacency take over. This is a film that introduces a socially relevant topic, but besides the obvious comparison of “gorgeous” versus “average,” the conversation quickly turns into a belligerent hammering of the same themes over and over again – with an ending that goes for shocks over enlightenment.” Matt Donato, We Got This Covered
“A body image nightmare that’s hard to watch for all the wrong reasons, Excess Flesh is a gluttonous mix of noxious characters, gross-out body horror and obvious narrative Indian burns. With all the sophistication of Easy Mac, Kennelly’s picture is painted in slobbish strokes, managing a surface level mockery of a serious issue with little to no intrigue.” Matt Oakes, Silver Screen Riot
“While Excess Flesh may not necessarily be a wholly successful effort from Kennelly, the film does have several strong aspects to it. The performances from both Orr and Loveless are dynamic and powerful, each giving their respective roles a feeling of raw ferocity that was rather remarkable. Cinematographer Benjamin Conley does an incredible job of immersing us inside this twisted world with some impressive visuals (even if slo-mo shots are way overused) and the score by Jonathan Snipes is pretty great as well.” Heather Wixson, Daily Dead
Cast:
- Bethany Orr as Jill
- Mary Loveless as Jennifer
- Wes McGee as Rob
- Sheresade Poblet as Cathy
- Jill Jacobson as Beverly
- Dana L. Wilson as Becky
- Kristin Minter as Nina
- Robert Maffia as Officer Jimmy
- Jules Bruff as Office Marie
- Juan Riedinger as Sebastian
